George Edward (Ted) James war memories and Nazi propaganda.

My Dad didn't talk much about the war, or his time in the army. He was essentially a pacifist, and he was not triumphant in any way about the war, and the part he played in it. He told me a few things that I have remembered and I would be interested to hear more about these incidents. He said that during his training (which I think was in Northern Ireland, but it might have been North Wales), the men were camping without the right equipment and it was extremely cold at night. Some of the men died from Hypothermia during the training!

My Dad's father died in September 1940, and my Dad was given one week of 'Compassionate Leave', to attend his Father's funeral.

He told me that at the end of the war he was posted to Germany to help with "The Clean Up Operation". He said that on VE Day, he was clearing unexploded mines! A very dangerous job. He collected and kept some of the Nazi propaganda. I will include photos of some of these things.

During the time that he was in Germany 'cleaning up', he made friends with a German man called Herbert Siekmann. He visited Herbert several times in the 1950s and I have photos of them camping together. They remained friends for the rest of their lives, exchanging letters and gifts (a big box of German treats for us children, and presents for my parents also), at Christmas.